Poland
Poland
Poland is the biggest country in Central Europe. Its borders with Ukraine and Belarus are the European Union’s external borders.
In 2020, Poland received 2,803 asylum applications, which was a significant decrease compared to previous years. Most asylum-seekers were citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus. 392 people were given international protection – most of them being from Turkey, Belarus and Russia.
UNHCR’s main objectives in Poland are to monitor access to territory and reception conditions as well as advocate for an efficient and protection-sensitive asylum system and related policies. UNHCR also aims to improve durable solutions such as local integration opportunities and increase public awareness of refugees and asylum issues. UNHCR works closely with both governmental and non-governmental organisations in Poland to achieve these objectives.
Additional information
For information about our work in Poland:
Are you a refugee or asylum-seeker in Poland? Find information about your rights and available services on our HELP site.
Visit the UNHCR Poland website for more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.
For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld.
![Poland. Refugees from Ukraine at the Kapelanka hostel](/my/sites/en-my/files/RF1261127_0_3.jpg "Tetiana (50) with her daughter Masha (12) from Ukraine. They live in Interhouse hotel which is a shelter for refugees.Tetiana fled her home in Dnipro, Ukraine in March 2022 with her daughter Masha. They lived next to a military unit that was under attack all the time. Tetiana was terrified when Masha shouted, "Mom, they're shooting." Masha has Downs syndrome and epilepsy. She had a panic attack.In Poland, they first lived near the border somewhere in a school turned into a shelter. Now they live in a hotel. Tetiana receives 500 zloty a month from the Polish state for Masha and a child's pension from Ukraine, which is why she is able to meet her basic needs on her own. "I miss home. I have a vegetable garden there. I dream of going back there one day," she says. But she adds that he is learning Polish just in case. In Ukraine, Tetiana was a dance instructor, and she would like to continue her job in Poland.Tetiana is now worrying about her parents who are on her way from Donetsk to Krakow.")
